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. , ; . I ; . ; f I I 1 : 1 , ; L - , . i - I t ! . . PREPARING FOR JUAREZ WINTER MEETING. Stakes Announced and Several Notable Improvements Nearing Completion at Mexican Course, El Paso, Tex., October 4. What promises to be tiie greatest winter race meeting yet held at the Jockey Club Juarez track, just across the international lwundary in Mexico, will open this season on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday. November 27. aud continue for 100 or more racing days. Secretary Edward Jasper has just announced eight stakes to be run at Juarez the coming winter. In addition to these stakes, other similar .events will be opened later on. The date for the closing of these stakes is set for Saturday. November 1, and the list is as follows: Juarez Handicap, for all ages, six furlongs; value ,500. Navidad Handicap, for all ages, one mile; value ,500. Ano Neuvo Handicap, for all ages, one mile and a sixteenth: value ,500. Dos Rcpublicas Handicap, for all ages, seven furlongs; value ,500. Bl Paso Stakes, selling, for all ages, one mile; value ,2C0. Rio Grande Stakes selling, for all ages, six furlongs; value ,200. Chapultepec Handicap selling, for present two-1 rear-olds, six furlongs; value ,500. Chihuahua Stakes stilling, for present two-! year-olds, six furlongs; value ,200. The values of the Navidad, Dos Republieas and tiie Chapultepec Handicaps are to be increased this year. Last season they were ,200 events. The coining winter meeting at the Jockey Club Course will be the fifth season of the sport at this great plant. The first meeting was held in the win- ter of 1909-1910 and ran for 71 racing days. In 1910-1911 the meeting was of 110 days duration. while in 1911-1912 it covered a period of 102 racing days, and last season, 1912-1913, It ran for 109 rac- ing davs. So in four seasons there have been nearly 400 racing davs at the Juarez track, during which 2.400 races have been run and more than three-quar-; tors of a million dollars distributed among horsemen in stakes and purses. Those who have visited tin? course in past sea- sons will find it hard to surmise how the plant could lie materially improved, so nearly perfect has been the condition of the beautiful enclosure and its arrangements. However. Manager Winn is apt in discovering deficiencies in detail that may be over- looked by others and once he discovers them he quickly follows up with a remedy. This explains why Superintendent Frank Keegan lias been at the Juarez course since last June with a force of workmen. To begin with, fifty-seven new stalls have been added to the stabling accommodations, which will make it possible to house 1.200 horses within the enclosure the coming winter. This part of the plant is being put in the best possible condition. The roofs of all the old stables inclined to leak have been replaced by new ones. The igrounds are the tidiest of any Tace track in. existence and a system of such perfect drainage has been established that no matter how; inclement the weather may be there can be no dampness around any of these buildings in the future. The old half-" mile chute, with Its sharp turn, where Hawthorn and Old Rosebud each raced to victory for the tirst time, has liccn abolished and instead a straight chute of three and a half furlongs has been constructed for the early two-year-old races. Tho track has been top soiled, so that it will be as good as niiv of the Kentucky courses in the event of rainy weather, and in fact it Is doubtful if there is a course anywhere which has a superior cushion to that now on the Juarez course. The drainage has been arranged so that the water will work towards the outer rail of the track and in case of muddy track conditions next winter the horses can run close to the inner rail, as it will not be necessary to go to the middle or outside of the course to get good going. The betting ring has been extended to a point even with the grandstand, which enlargement makes it as commodious as any corresponding quarters on American tracks. The inlield has been sown in white clover and Superintendent Keegan expects It to be green all winter, while many new semi-tropical nlants have liecn added to the hundreds al-rcadv growing on the grounds. The Juarez course this "winter will present a highly attractive appearance. Other Improvements, such as the equipment of the ladies quarters beneath the grandstand and the restaurant connecting therewith, in elegant style, are under way and will be completed before the opening day of the coming racing season. To give some idea of tho work done and now going on at Juarez, it is only necessary to note that since last June Superintendent Keegan has had thirty-seven skilled workmen on his payroll constantly. There will be many new faces seen at the Juarez Course the coming winter and many owners who have heretofore raced at other winter tracks will be among those who will patronize the Mexican course during the coming winter. In regard to the disturbances now going on or that mav at any time go on in Mexico, it is well enough to state here that sports in that country are always exempt from political or military troubles. "During the winter season of 1911-1912. racing was conducted at Juarez with no less than five changes in the government. It is well enough also to note that this vicinity is at present cn-joving a marked degree of prosperity. Many eastern men of independent fortunes have already secured quarters In the big hotels or have had reservations made by agents for bungalows for the comiug winter. The betting ring at Juarez for the coining 100 days or more of racing will be opened to all reputable lays. The officers who will have charge of the coming meeting are: President J. G. Follausbee. General Manager M. J. Winn. Stewards Charles F. Price, W. H. Fencliler, M. J. Winn. Placing Judges W. II. Shelley, H. F. Breivogel, B. Jasper. Starter Mars Cassidy. Racing Secretary E. Jasper. Wade McLemores string of horses and several other western stables that have been racing through Montana and other sections during the past summer have been shipped to Juarez for the coming I winter racing season at that Mexican track.
